Rules of General Application; Investigations Relating to Global and Bilateral Safeguard Actions, Market Disruption, Trade Diversion, and Review of Relief Actions; Investigations With Respect to Commercial Availability of Textile Fabric and Yarn in Sub-Saharan African Countries; Trade Remedy Assistance, 6665-6669 [2015-02388]
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6665
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 25
Friday, February 6, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
7 CFR Parts 318 and 319
[Docket No. APHIS–2010–0082]
RIN 0579–AD71
Establishing a Performance Standard
for Authorizing the Importation and
Interstate Movement of Fruits and
Vegetables
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of
comment period.
AGENCY:
We are reopening the
comment period for our proposed rule
that would amend our regulations
governing the importation and interstate
movement of fruits and vegetables by
broadening our existing performance
standard to provide for approval of all
new fruits and vegetables for
importation or interstate movement into
or within the United States using a
notice-based process. This action will
allow interested persons additional time
to prepare and submit comments.
DATES: The comment period for the
proposed rule published on September
9, 2014 (79 FR 53346–53352) is
reopened. We will consider all
comments that we receive on or before
March 10, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0082.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2010–0082, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0082 or
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SUMMARY:
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in our reading room, which is located in
Room 1141 of the USDA South
Building, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal
reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 799–7039
before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Nicole L. Russo, Assistant Director,
Regulatory Coordination and
Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1231; (301) 851–2159.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 9, 2014, we published in the
Federal Register (79 FR 53346–53352) a
proposal to amend our regulations
governing the importations of fruits and
vegetables by broadening our existing
performance standard to provide for
approval of all new fruits and vegetables
for importation into the United States
using a notice-based process. We also
proposed to remove the region- or
commodity-specific phytosanitary
requirements currently found in these
regulations. Likewise, we proposed an
equivalent revision of the performance
standard in our regulations governing
the interstate movement of fruits and
vegetables from Hawaii and the U.S.
territories (Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands) and the removal of commodityspecific phytosanitary requirements
from those regulations. This proposal
would allow for the approval of requests
to authorize the importation or
interstate movement of new fruits and
vegetables in a manner that enables a
more flexible and responsive regulatory
approach to evolving pest situations in
both the United States and exporting
countries. It would not however, alter
the science-based process in which the
risk associated with importation or
interstate movement of a given fruit or
vegetable is evaluated or the manner in
which risks associated with the
importation or interstate movement of a
fruit or vegetable are mitigated.
Comments on the proposed rule were
required to be received on or before
November 10, 2014. On December 4,
2014, we published in the Federal
Register (79 FR 71973) a notice of
reopening of the comment period for an
additional 60 days. Comments were
required to be received on or before
January 9, 2015.
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We are reopening the comment period
on Docket No. APHIS–2010–0082 for an
additional 60 days. We will also accept
all comments received between January
10, 2015 (the day after the close of the
initial extended comment period) and
the date of this notice. This action will
allow interested persons additional time
to prepare and submit comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and
7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR
2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of
February 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–02404 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
19 CFR Parts 201, 206, 208, and 213,
and Chapter II
Rules of General Application;
Investigations Relating to Global and
Bilateral Safeguard Actions, Market
Disruption, Trade Diversion, and
Review of Relief Actions;
Investigations With Respect to
Commercial Availability of Textile
Fabric and Yarn in Sub-Saharan
African Countries; Trade Remedy
Assistance
International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking;
retrospective analysis of rules.
AGENCY:
The United States
International Trade Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) proposes to amend
provisions of its Rules of Practice and
Procedure concerning the Freedom of
Information Act, the Privacy Act, the
Government in the Sunshine Act,
certain investigations, and trade remedy
assistance. The proposed amendments
are part of the agency’s retrospective
analysis of its Rules that attempts to
determine whether rules should be
modified, streamlined, expanded, or
repealed so as to make the agency’s
regulatory program more effective or
less burdensome in achieving regulatory
objectives. The Commission requests
public comment both on the proposed
amendments and on its rules in general.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Proposed Rules
To be assured of consideration,
written comments must be received by
5:15 p.m. on April 7, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number MISC–038,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Agency Web site: https://
edis.usitc.gov. Follow the instructions
for submitting comments on the Web
site.
Mail: For paper submission. U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Room 112A, Washington,
DC 20436.
Hand Delivery/Courier: U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Room 112A, Washington,
DC 20436. During the hours of 8:45 a.m.
to 5:15 p.m.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number (MISC–038), along with
a cover letter stating the nature of the
commenter’s interest in the proposed
rulemaking. All comments received will
be posted without change to https://
edis.usitc.gov, including any personal
information provided. For paper copies,
a signed original and 8 copies of each
set of comments should be submitted to
Lisa R. Barton, Secretary, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Room 112A, Washington,
DC 20436.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to https://
edis.usitc.gov and/or the U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Room 112A, Washington,
DC 20436.
A person seeking to submit a
comment that includes confidential
business information should follow the
procedures set out in 19 CFR 201.6.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa
R. Barton, Secretary, telephone (202)
205–2000, or Paul R. Bardos, Office of
the General Counsel, telephone (202)
205–3061, United States International
Trade Commission. Hearing-impaired
individuals are advised that information
on this matter can be obtained by
contacting the Commission’s TDD
terminal at (202) 205–1810. General
information concerning the Commission
may also be obtained by accessing its
Internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
preamble below is designed to assist
readers in understanding these
proposed amendments to the
Commission’s Rules. This preamble
provides background information, a
section-by-section explanation of the
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proposed amendments, and a regulatory
analysis of the proposed amendments.
The Commission encourages members
of the public to comment on the
proposed amendments as well as on
whether the language of the proposed
amendments is sufficiently clear for
users to understand.
Background
Section 335 of the Tariff Act of 1930
(19 U.S.C. 1335) authorizes the
Commission to adopt such reasonable
procedures, rules, and regulations as it
deems necessary to carry out its
functions and duties. This rulemaking
seeks to improve provisions of the
Commission’s existing Rules of Practice
and Procedure. The Commission invites
the public to comment on all of these
proposed rules amendments. In any
comments, please consider addressing
whether the language of the proposed
amendments is sufficiently clear for
users to understand. In addition please
consider addressing how the proposed
rules amendments could be improved,
and/or offer specific constructive
alternatives where appropriate.
Consistent with its ordinary practice,
the Commission is issuing these
proposed amendments in accordance
with provisions of section 553 of the
Administrative Procedure Act (‘‘APA’’)
(5 U.S.C. 553), although such provisions
are not mandatory with respect to this
rulemaking. The APA procedure entails
the following steps: (1) Publication of a
notice of proposed rulemaking; (2)
solicitation of public comments on the
proposed amendments; (3) Commission
review of public comments on the
proposed amendments; and (4)
publication of final amendments at least
thirty days prior to their effective date.
This notice of proposed rulemaking is
a result of the Commission’s Plan for
Retrospective Analysis of Existing
Rules, which was published on
February 14, 2012, at 77 FR 8114. The
plan was issued in response to
Executive Order 13579 of July 11, 2011,
and established a process under which
the Commission will periodically
review its significant rules to determine
whether any such rules should be
modified, streamlined, expanded, or
repealed so as to make the agency’s
regulatory program more effective or
less burdensome in achieving regulatory
objectives. On August 9, 2012, at 77 FR
47572, the Commission published a
notice seeking public comment on its
existing Rules as part of the
retrospective review. Several comments
were received, and are being taken into
account as the Commission continues to
review its Rules.
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The Commission has in the past two
years issued a number of notices of
rulemaking designed to improve the
Commission’s existing Rules. With
respect to proceedings conducted under
section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19
U.S.C. 1337), the Commission most
recently published a notice of final
rulemaking on May 21, 2013 (78 FR
29618). Concerning proceedings
conducted under title VII of the Tariff
Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.), the
agency published a notice of final
rulemaking on June 25, 2014 (79 FR
35920). In addition, the Commission
updated its Rules concerning national
security information by notice
published on August 8, 2014 (79 FR
46350).
The Commission’s Plan calls for the
agency to seek public input on its Rules
every two years. As a result, the
Commission is seeking input by this
notice to assist it in determining
whether, in addition to the proposed
amendments set out below, any of the
agency’s Rules should be modified,
streamlined, expanded, or repealed so
as to make the agency’s regulatory
program more effective or less
burdensome in achieving regulatory
objectives. The public is invited to
comment both on the proposed
amendments and any other of the
Commission’s Rules.
As discussed more fully below, the
Commission proposes to revise
provisions of its Rules concerning the
Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy
Act, the Government in the Sunshine
Act, certain investigations, and trade
remedy assistance.
Section-by-Section Analysis
The Commission proposes to amend
the authority citation for part 201 to
conform to the recommendation of the
Office of the Federal Register with
respect to statutory citation.
Section 201.17(a)(5) directs members
of the public to make inquiries of the
Publications Office in the Office of the
Secretary when writing or calling for
copies of documents. The Commission
proposes to revise this provision to
reflect the fact that there is no longer a
Publications Office in the Secretary’s
Office and that many documents are
available online.
Section 201.19(f) currently states that,
in general, the Commission has ten (10)
working days in which to respond to a
Freedom of Information Act request.
The Commission proposes to revise this
paragraph to remove it in conformity
with the applicable statutory provision
(5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A)(i)), which gives
agencies twenty (20) working days to
respond to requests. In addition, the
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paragraph would be revised to increase
flexibility by replacing a specific
deadline for filing objections to
disclosure of information with a
provision for the Secretary to set the
deadline.
Section 201.20(j)(8) defines the term
‘‘representative of the news media.’’ The
Commission proposes to replace the
existing definition with the statutory
one set out at 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(ii).
Section 201.23(e) states that the
Privacy Act Officer for the Commission
is the Director of the Office of
Administration. The Commission
proposes to amend this provision to
reflect the fact that this responsibility
has been transferred to the Secretary to
the Commission.
Section 201.34(a)(3) states that
conference telephone calls among
Commissioners generally are considered
meetings under the Government in the
Sunshine Act. The Commission
proposes to more closely accord this
statement with the statute by clarifying
that this is only the case where the
deliberations of the Commissioners
‘‘determine or result in the joint conduct
or disposition of official [Commission]
business.’’ See 5 U.S.C. 552b(a)(2).
Section 206.2 sets out how a petition
or request for a safeguard investigation
should be identified. The Commission
proposes to amend the provision to add
procedures for filing such documents.
The Commission proposes to remove
part 208 of its Rules, which governs
investigations with respect to
commercial availability of textile fabric
and yarn in sub-Saharan African
countries. Such investigations were
provided for under section 112(c) of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act
(19 U.S.C. 3721(c)), which was repealed
by Section 3(a)(2) of the Andean Trade
Preference Act, Public Law 110–436.
Part 213 implements 19 U.S.C. 1339
by establishing a Trade Remedy
Assistance Office (TRAO) and assigning
duties to that office. The Commission
proposes to move part 213 to a new
subchapter D. This move would clarify
that part 213 applies to proceedings
under several trade statutes. Currently
part 213 is located in subchapter C,
which is intended to cover only unfair
practices in import trade.
The Commission proposes to amend
the authority citation for part 213 to
conform to the recommendation of the
Office of the Federal Register with
respect to statutory citation.
The Commission proposes to amend
section 213.2 to update and simplify the
definition of the term ‘‘SBA size
standards.’’ A reference to frivolous
petitions and complaints would be
removed as unnecessary because,
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although TRAO has the statutory
authority to determine that a petition or
application is frivolous, the office has
not received such documents. In
addition, the Commission proposes to
clarify that technical assistance is
provided under 19 U.S.C. 1339(b), so
that persons seeking information and
assistance under 19 U.S.C. 1339(a) need
not file the formal application required
by section 213.3; a conforming change
would be made to section 213.3. Also,
a typographical error would be
corrected.
The Commission proposes to amend
sections 213.3 and 213.6 to inform the
public that the agency provides
information relating to trade remedy
assistance on its Web site.
Regulatory Analysis of Proposed
Amendments to the Commission’s Rules
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is inapplicable to this
rulemaking because it is not one for
which a notice of final rulemaking is
required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or any
other statute. Although the Commission
has chosen to publish a notice of
proposed rulemaking, these proposed
regulations are ‘‘agency rules of
procedure and practice,’’ and thus are
exempt from the notice requirement
imposed by 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Moreover,
the proposed rules are certified as not
having a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
The proposed rules do not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
No actions are necessary under title II
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995, Public Law 104–4 (2 U.S.C.
1531–1538) because these amended
rules will not result in the expenditure
by State, local, and tribal governments,
in the aggregate, or by the private sector,
of $100,000,000 or more in any one
year, and will not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments.
The Commission has determined that
these amended rules do not constitute a
‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866
(58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993).
The proposed rules do not have
Federalism implications warranting the
preparation of a federalism summary
impact statement under Executive Order
13132 (64 FR 43255, August 4, 1999).
The proposed amendments are not
‘‘major rules’’ as defined by section 251
of the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5
U.S.C. 801 et. seq.). Moreover, they are
exempt from the reporting requirements
of the Act because they concern rules of
agency organization, procedure, or
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6667
practice that do not substantially affect
the rights or obligations of non-agency
parties.
List of Subjects in 19 CFR Parts 201,
206, 208, and 213
Administrative practice and
procedure; imports; foreign trade.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, under the authority of 19
U.S.C. 1335, the United States
International Trade Commission
proposes to amend 19 CFR parts 201,
206, 208, and 213 as follows:
PART 201—RULES OF GENERAL
APPLICATION
1. Revise the authority citation for part
201 to read as follows:
■
Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1335; 19 U.S.C. 2482,
unless otherwise noted.
2. Revise paragraph (a)(5) of § 201.17
to read as follows:
■
§ 201.17 Procedures for requesting access
to records.
(a) * * *
(5) Copies of public Commission
reports and other publications are
available online at https://www.usitc.gov,
or can be requested by calling or writing
the Office of the Secretary. Certain
Commission publications are sold by
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, and are
available from that agency at the price
set by that agency.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Revise paragraph (f) of § 201.19 to
read as follows:
§ 201.19 Notification regarding requests
for confidential business information.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) Opportunity to object to disclosure.
Through the notice described in
paragraph (c) of this section, the
Commission will afford a submitter an
opportunity, within the period afforded
to the Commission to make its decision
in response to the FOIA request, to
provide the Commission with a detailed
written statement of any objection to
disclosure. Such statement shall be filed
by a deadline set by the Secretary, and
it shall specify all grounds for
withholding any of the information
under any exemption of FOIA. In the
case of FOIA Exemptions 3 or 4, it shall
demonstrate why the information
should continue to be considered
confidential business information
within the meaning of § 201.6 of this
part and should not be disclosed. The
submitter’s claim of continued
confidentiality should be supported by
a certification by an officer or
authorized representative of the
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submitter. Information provided by a
submitter pursuant to this paragraph
may itself be subject to disclosure under
FOIA.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Revise paragraph (j)(8) of § 201.20
to read as follows:
number of Commissioners requisite for
Commission action, and where the
deliberations of the Commissioners
determine or result in the joint conduct
or disposition of official Commission
business.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 201.20
PART 206—INVESTIGATIONS
RELATING TO GLOBAL AND
BILATERAL SAFEGUARD ACTIONS,
MARKET DISRUPTION, TRADE
DIVERSION, AND REVIEW OF RELIEF
ACTIONS
Fees.
*
*
*
*
*
(j) * * *
(8) The term representative of the
news media refers to any person or
entity that gathers information of
potential interest to a segment of the
public, uses its editorial skills to turn
the raw materials into a distinct work,
and distributes that work to an
audience. The term ‘news’ means
information that is about current events
or that would be of current interest to
the public. Examples of news-media
entities are television or radio stations
broadcasting to the public at large and
publishers of periodicals (but only if
such entities qualify as disseminators of
‘news’) who make their products
available for purchase by or
subscription by or free distribution to
the general public. These examples are
not all-inclusive. Moreover, as methods
of news delivery evolve (for example,
the adoption of the electronic
dissemination of newspapers through
telecommunications services), such
alternative media shall be considered to
be news-media entities. A freelance
journalist shall be regarded as working
for a news-media entity if the journalist
can demonstrate a solid basis for
expecting publication through that
entity, whether or not the journalist is
actually employed by the entity. A
publication contract would present a
solid basis for such an expectation; the
Government may also consider the past
publication record of the requester in
making such a determination.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 5. Revise paragraph (e) of § 201.23 to
read as follows:
§ 201.23
Definitions.
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Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1335, 2112 note,
2251–2254, 2436, 2451–2451a, 3351–3382,
3805 note, 4051–4065, and 4101.
■
*
*
*
*
(e) The term Privacy Act Officer refers
to the Secretary, United States
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, or
his or her designee.
■ 6. Revise paragraph (a)(3) of § 201.34
to read as follows:
Definitions.
§ 206.2 Identification of type of petition or
request.
An investigation under this part may
be commenced on the basis of a
petition, request, resolution, or motion
as provided for in the statutory
provisions listed in §§ 206.1 and 206.31.
Each petition or request, as the case
maybe, filed by an entity representative
of a domestic industry under this part
shall state clearly on the first page
thereof ‘‘This is a [petition or request]
under section [citing the statutory
provision] and Subpart [B, C, D, E, F, or
G] of part 206 of the rules of practice
and procedure of the United States
International Trade Commission.’’ A
paper original and eight (8) true paper
copies of a petition, request, resolution,
or motion shall be filed. One copy of
any exhibits, appendices, and
attachments to the document shall be
filed in electronic form on CD–ROM,
DVD, or other portable electronic format
approved by the Secretary.
PART 208—[REMOVED AND
RESERVED]
■
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(3) Conference telephone calls among
the Commissioners are considered
meetings as defined by paragraph (a)(1)
of this section if they involve the
18:41 Feb 05, 2015
9. Remove and reserve part 208.
Subchapter D—Special Provisions
10. Under the authority of 19 U.S.C.
1335, add subchapter D with the
heading set forth above, and transfer
part 213, consisting of §§ 213.1 through
213.6, into new subchapter D.
PART 213—TRADE REMEDY
ASSISTANCE
11. Revise the authority citation for
part 213 to read as follows:
■
*
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8. Revise § 206.2 to read as follows:
■
*
§ 201.34
7. The authority citation for part 206
continues to read as follows:
■
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Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1335, 1339.
12. Revise paragraphs (d), (e), (f), and
(g) of § 213.2 to read as follows:
■
§ 213.2
*
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Definitions.
*
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*
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(d) Technical Assistance. Technical
assistance is informal advice and
assistance, including informal legal
advice, provided under 19 U.S.C.
1339(b) and intended to enable eligible
small businesses to determine the
appropriateness of pursuing particular
trade remedies, to prepare petitions and
complaints and to seek to obtain the
remedies and benefits available under
the trade laws identified in § 213.2(b).
Technical assistance is available to
eligible small businesses at any time
until the completion of administrative
review or of an appeal to the
administering agency regarding
proceedings under the trade laws listed
in § 213.2(b). Technical assistance does
not include legal representation of an
eligible small business or advocacy on
its behalf and receipt of technical
assistance does not ensure that the
recipient will prevail in any trade
remedy proceeding. The Office provides
such technical assistance independently
of other Commission staff but may
consult with other staff as appropriate.
(e) Applicant. An applicant is an
individual, partnership, corporation,
joint venture, trade or other association,
cooperative, group of workers, or
certified or recognized union, or other
entity that applies for technical
assistance under this part.
(f) Eligible small business. An eligible
small business is an applicant that the
Office has determined to be entitled to
technical assistance under 19 U.S.C.
1339(b) in accordance with the SBA size
standards and the procedures set forth
in this part.
(g) SBA size standards. The Office has
adopted for its use SBA size standards,
which are the small business size
standards of the Small Business
Administration set forth in 13 CFR part
121.
■ 13. Revise paragraph (a) of § 213.3 to
read as follows:
§ 213.3 Determination of small business
eligibility.
(a) Application for technical
assistance from small businesses. An
applicant for technical assistance under
19 U.S.C. 1339(b) must certify that it
qualifies as a small business under the
appropriate size standard(s) and that it
is an independently owned and
operated company. An application for
technical assistance is available from
the Office and on the Commission’s
Web site. The application must be
signed under oath by an officer or
principal of the applicant. The
completed application should be
submitted to the Office at the address
set forth in § 213.2(a).
*
*
*
*
*
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Proposed Rules
■
14. Revise § 213.6 to read as follows:
§ 213.6 Information concerning
assistance.
Any person may contact the Office
with questions regarding eligibility for
technical assistance. Summaries of the
trade laws and the SBA size standards
can be obtained by writing to the Trade
Remedy Assistance Office, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.
Information is also provided on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.usitc.gov.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: February 2, 2015.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015–02388 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION
29 CFR Part 1614
RIN 3046–AB00
Federal Sector Equal Employment
Opportunity
Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
rulemaking.
AGENCY:
The Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (‘‘EEOC’’ or
‘‘Commission’’) is issuing an Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(‘‘ANPRM’’) inviting the public to
submit comments regarding the Federal
sector EEO complaint process. The
Commission primarily is interested in
suggestions that will make the process
more efficient and user-friendly, and
more effective in identifying and
redressing prohibited employment
discrimination.
DATES: Comments and suggestions in
response to the Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking must be received
on or before April 7, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by RIN Number, by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 663–4114. (There is no
toll free FAX number). Only comments
of six or fewer pages will be accepted
via FAX transmittal, in order to assure
access to the equipment. Receipt of FAX
transmittals will not be acknowledged,
except that the sender may request
confirmation of receipt by calling the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:42 Feb 05, 2015
Jkt 235001
Executive Secretariat staff at (202) 663–
4070 (voice) or (202) 663–4074 (TTY).
(These are not toll free numbers).
• Mail: Bernadette Wilson, Acting
Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat,
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street
NE., Washington, DC 20507.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Bernadette
Wilson, Acting Executive Officer,
Executive Secretariat, Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission,
131 M Street NE., Washington, DC
20507.
Instructions: The Commission invites
comments from all interested parties.
All comment submissions must include
the agency name and the Regulatory
Information Number (RIN) for this
ANPRM. Comments need be submitted
in only one of the above-listed methods.
All comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide.
Comments: For access to the
comments received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Copies of the
received comments also will be
available for review by pre-arranged
appointment at the Commission’s
library, 131 M Street NE., Suite
4NW08R, Washington, DC 20507,
between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5
p.m., from April 7, 2015 until the
Commission publishes a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (‘‘NPRM’’)
addressing the Federal sector EEO
complaint process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal
Counsel, (202) 663–4668, or Gary John
Hozempa, Senior Staff Attorney, (202)
663–4666, or (202) 663–7026 (TTY),
Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission.
(These are not toll free numbers).
Requests for this advance notice in an
alternative format should be made to the
Office of Communications and
Legislative Affairs at (202) 663–4191
(voice) or (202) 663–4494 (TTY). (These
are not toll free numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
discussed more fully below, Federal
sector EEO complaint processing
procedures did not originate with EEOC
in 1979, when EEOC was given
oversight authority over the Federal
sector EEO process. Rather, formal,
regulatory procedures first were
promulgated by the Civil Service
Commission (‘‘CSC’’) in 1966, codified
at 5 CFR part 713, and the basic
framework contained in those
procedures was adopted by EEOC in
1979. Although EEOC has revised the
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Fmt 4702
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6669
procedures a number of times, the
original structure inherited from the
CSC—counseling, complaint,
investigation, hearing, final agency
action, and appeal—remains.
The CSC’s complaint processing
scheme was not created in a vacuum.
Rather, the CSC developed its
procedures based on those established
in a series of Executive Orders issued by
Presidents Roosevelt through Nixon.
The first administrative system for
resolving Federal sector EEO complaints
was created in Executive Order (‘‘E.O.’’)
8802 (June 25, 1941). Among other
things, U.S. agencies involved in
‘‘defense production’’ were ordered to
administer their programs ‘‘without
discrimination because of race, creed,
color, or national origin.’’ The Order, as
amended by E.O. 9346 (May 27, 1943),
established a Committee on Fair
Employment Practice whose function
was to formulate policy, promulgate
rules and regulations, investigate EEO
complaints and make findings of fact,
conduct hearings, and provide relief
when appropriate. As can be seen, many
of the element’s in today’s Federal
sector EEO complaint process were
created more than 70 years ago.
E.O. 9980 (July 26, 1948) expanded
the reach of the Federal Government’s
EEO policy to include ‘‘all departments
and agencies of the executive branch
. . .’’ The Order created within each
agency the position of ‘‘Fair
Employment Officer’’ (‘‘FEO’’), the
precursor to today’s Director of Equal
Employment Opportunity (‘‘EEO
Director’’). The E.O. also introduced an
appeal stage, wherein a complainant
could appeal the decision of the agency
head to the Fair Employment Board
(‘‘Board’’) of the CSC. The Board was
empowered to ‘‘make
recommendations’’ to the agency head.
The Board also was given the authority
to promulgate ‘‘necessary’’ rules and
regulations and coordinate EEO policies
and procedures among the agencies.
Over the next 20 years, the CSC’s
authority over the Federal sector EEO
process was modified by subsequent
Presidents. E.O. 10590 (January 18,
1955), as amended, explicitly
superseded E.O. 9980, abolished the
CSC’s Board, and replaced it with a
‘‘President’s Committee.’’ The position
of FEO was replaced with an
‘‘Employment Policy Officer,’’ who, like
a current EEO Director, is ‘‘outside of
the division handling the personnel
matters of the . . . agency’’ and ‘‘under
the immediate supervision of the head
of his department or agency.’’ A
complainant could appeal an agency
final decision to the President’s
Committee, which could issue an
E:\FR\FM\06FEP1.SGM
06FEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6665-6669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02388]
=======================================================================
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
19 CFR Parts 201, 206, 208, and 213, and Chapter II
Rules of General Application; Investigations Relating to Global
and Bilateral Safeguard Actions, Market Disruption, Trade Diversion,
and Review of Relief Actions; Investigations With Respect to Commercial
Availability of Textile Fabric and Yarn in Sub-Saharan African
Countries; Trade Remedy Assistance
AGENCY: International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; retrospective analysis of rules.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States International Trade Commission
(``Commission'') proposes to amend provisions of its Rules of Practice
and Procedure concerning the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy
Act, the Government in the Sunshine Act, certain investigations, and
trade remedy assistance. The proposed amendments are part of the
agency's retrospective analysis of its Rules that attempts to determine
whether rules should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so
as to make the agency's regulatory program more effective or less
burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives. The Commission requests
public comment both on the proposed amendments and on its rules in
general.
[[Page 6666]]
DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be
received by 5:15 p.m. on April 7, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number MISC-
038, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Agency Web site: https://edis.usitc.gov. Follow the instructions
for submitting comments on the Web site.
Mail: For paper submission. U.S. International Trade Commission,
500 E Street SW., Room 112A, Washington, DC 20436.
Hand Delivery/Courier: U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Room 112A, Washington, DC 20436. During the hours of 8:45
a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number (MISC-038), along with a cover letter stating the
nature of the commenter's interest in the proposed rulemaking. All
comments received will be posted without change to https://edis.usitc.gov, including any personal information provided. For paper
copies, a signed original and 8 copies of each set of comments should
be submitted to Lisa R. Barton, Secretary, U.S. International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Room 112A, Washington, DC 20436.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to https://edis.usitc.gov and/or the U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Room 112A,
Washington, DC 20436.
A person seeking to submit a comment that includes confidential
business information should follow the procedures set out in 19 CFR
201.6.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa R. Barton, Secretary, telephone
(202) 205-2000, or Paul R. Bardos, Office of the General Counsel,
telephone (202) 205-3061, United States International Trade Commission.
Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this
matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at
(202) 205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also
be obtained by accessing its Internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preamble below is designed to assist
readers in understanding these proposed amendments to the Commission's
Rules. This preamble provides background information, a section-by-
section explanation of the proposed amendments, and a regulatory
analysis of the proposed amendments. The Commission encourages members
of the public to comment on the proposed amendments as well as on
whether the language of the proposed amendments is sufficiently clear
for users to understand.
Background
Section 335 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1335) authorizes
the Commission to adopt such reasonable procedures, rules, and
regulations as it deems necessary to carry out its functions and
duties. This rulemaking seeks to improve provisions of the Commission's
existing Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Commission invites the
public to comment on all of these proposed rules amendments. In any
comments, please consider addressing whether the language of the
proposed amendments is sufficiently clear for users to understand. In
addition please consider addressing how the proposed rules amendments
could be improved, and/or offer specific constructive alternatives
where appropriate.
Consistent with its ordinary practice, the Commission is issuing
these proposed amendments in accordance with provisions of section 553
of the Administrative Procedure Act (``APA'') (5 U.S.C. 553), although
such provisions are not mandatory with respect to this rulemaking. The
APA procedure entails the following steps: (1) Publication of a notice
of proposed rulemaking; (2) solicitation of public comments on the
proposed amendments; (3) Commission review of public comments on the
proposed amendments; and (4) publication of final amendments at least
thirty days prior to their effective date.
This notice of proposed rulemaking is a result of the Commission's
Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules, which was published
on February 14, 2012, at 77 FR 8114. The plan was issued in response to
Executive Order 13579 of July 11, 2011, and established a process under
which the Commission will periodically review its significant rules to
determine whether any such rules should be modified, streamlined,
expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency's regulatory program
more effective or less burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives.
On August 9, 2012, at 77 FR 47572, the Commission published a notice
seeking public comment on its existing Rules as part of the
retrospective review. Several comments were received, and are being
taken into account as the Commission continues to review its Rules.
The Commission has in the past two years issued a number of notices
of rulemaking designed to improve the Commission's existing Rules. With
respect to proceedings conducted under section 337 of the Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337), the Commission most recently published a notice
of final rulemaking on May 21, 2013 (78 FR 29618). Concerning
proceedings conducted under title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19
U.S.C. 1671 et seq.), the agency published a notice of final rulemaking
on June 25, 2014 (79 FR 35920). In addition, the Commission updated its
Rules concerning national security information by notice published on
August 8, 2014 (79 FR 46350).
The Commission's Plan calls for the agency to seek public input on
its Rules every two years. As a result, the Commission is seeking input
by this notice to assist it in determining whether, in addition to the
proposed amendments set out below, any of the agency's Rules should be
modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency's
regulatory program more effective or less burdensome in achieving
regulatory objectives. The public is invited to comment both on the
proposed amendments and any other of the Commission's Rules.
As discussed more fully below, the Commission proposes to revise
provisions of its Rules concerning the Freedom of Information Act, the
Privacy Act, the Government in the Sunshine Act, certain
investigations, and trade remedy assistance.
Section-by-Section Analysis
The Commission proposes to amend the authority citation for part
201 to conform to the recommendation of the Office of the Federal
Register with respect to statutory citation.
Section 201.17(a)(5) directs members of the public to make
inquiries of the Publications Office in the Office of the Secretary
when writing or calling for copies of documents. The Commission
proposes to revise this provision to reflect the fact that there is no
longer a Publications Office in the Secretary's Office and that many
documents are available online.
Section 201.19(f) currently states that, in general, the Commission
has ten (10) working days in which to respond to a Freedom of
Information Act request. The Commission proposes to revise this
paragraph to remove it in conformity with the applicable statutory
provision (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A)(i)), which gives agencies twenty (20)
working days to respond to requests. In addition, the
[[Page 6667]]
paragraph would be revised to increase flexibility by replacing a
specific deadline for filing objections to disclosure of information
with a provision for the Secretary to set the deadline.
Section 201.20(j)(8) defines the term ``representative of the news
media.'' The Commission proposes to replace the existing definition
with the statutory one set out at 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(ii).
Section 201.23(e) states that the Privacy Act Officer for the
Commission is the Director of the Office of Administration. The
Commission proposes to amend this provision to reflect the fact that
this responsibility has been transferred to the Secretary to the
Commission.
Section 201.34(a)(3) states that conference telephone calls among
Commissioners generally are considered meetings under the Government in
the Sunshine Act. The Commission proposes to more closely accord this
statement with the statute by clarifying that this is only the case
where the deliberations of the Commissioners ``determine or result in
the joint conduct or disposition of official [Commission] business.''
See 5 U.S.C. 552b(a)(2).
Section 206.2 sets out how a petition or request for a safeguard
investigation should be identified. The Commission proposes to amend
the provision to add procedures for filing such documents.
The Commission proposes to remove part 208 of its Rules, which
governs investigations with respect to commercial availability of
textile fabric and yarn in sub-Saharan African countries. Such
investigations were provided for under section 112(c) of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(c)), which was repealed by
Section 3(a)(2) of the Andean Trade Preference Act, Public Law 110-436.
Part 213 implements 19 U.S.C. 1339 by establishing a Trade Remedy
Assistance Office (TRAO) and assigning duties to that office. The
Commission proposes to move part 213 to a new subchapter D. This move
would clarify that part 213 applies to proceedings under several trade
statutes. Currently part 213 is located in subchapter C, which is
intended to cover only unfair practices in import trade.
The Commission proposes to amend the authority citation for part
213 to conform to the recommendation of the Office of the Federal
Register with respect to statutory citation.
The Commission proposes to amend section 213.2 to update and
simplify the definition of the term ``SBA size standards.'' A reference
to frivolous petitions and complaints would be removed as unnecessary
because, although TRAO has the statutory authority to determine that a
petition or application is frivolous, the office has not received such
documents. In addition, the Commission proposes to clarify that
technical assistance is provided under 19 U.S.C. 1339(b), so that
persons seeking information and assistance under 19 U.S.C. 1339(a) need
not file the formal application required by section 213.3; a conforming
change would be made to section 213.3. Also, a typographical error
would be corrected.
The Commission proposes to amend sections 213.3 and 213.6 to inform
the public that the agency provides information relating to trade
remedy assistance on its Web site.
Regulatory Analysis of Proposed Amendments to the Commission's Rules
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is
inapplicable to this rulemaking because it is not one for which a
notice of final rulemaking is required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or any
other statute. Although the Commission has chosen to publish a notice
of proposed rulemaking, these proposed regulations are ``agency rules
of procedure and practice,'' and thus are exempt from the notice
requirement imposed by 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Moreover, the proposed rules
are certified as not having a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The proposed rules do not impose an information collection burden
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.).
No actions are necessary under title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995, Public Law 104-4 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) because these
amended rules will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and will not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments.
The Commission has determined that these amended rules do not
constitute a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of
Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993).
The proposed rules do not have Federalism implications warranting
the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement under
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 4, 1999).
The proposed amendments are not ``major rules'' as defined by
section 251 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 801 et. seq.). Moreover, they are exempt from the
reporting requirements of the Act because they concern rules of agency
organization, procedure, or practice that do not substantially affect
the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.
List of Subjects in 19 CFR Parts 201, 206, 208, and 213
Administrative practice and procedure; imports; foreign trade.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, under the authority of 19
U.S.C. 1335, the United States International Trade Commission proposes
to amend 19 CFR parts 201, 206, 208, and 213 as follows:
PART 201--RULES OF GENERAL APPLICATION
0
1. Revise the authority citation for part 201 to read as follows:
Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1335; 19 U.S.C. 2482, unless otherwise
noted.
0
2. Revise paragraph (a)(5) of Sec. 201.17 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.17 Procedures for requesting access to records.
(a) * * *
(5) Copies of public Commission reports and other publications are
available online at https://www.usitc.gov, or can be requested by
calling or writing the Office of the Secretary. Certain Commission
publications are sold by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, and are available from that agency at the
price set by that agency.
* * * * *
0
3. Revise paragraph (f) of Sec. 201.19 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.19 Notification regarding requests for confidential business
information.
* * * * *
(f) Opportunity to object to disclosure. Through the notice
described in paragraph (c) of this section, the Commission will afford
a submitter an opportunity, within the period afforded to the
Commission to make its decision in response to the FOIA request, to
provide the Commission with a detailed written statement of any
objection to disclosure. Such statement shall be filed by a deadline
set by the Secretary, and it shall specify all grounds for withholding
any of the information under any exemption of FOIA. In the case of FOIA
Exemptions 3 or 4, it shall demonstrate why the information should
continue to be considered confidential business information within the
meaning of Sec. 201.6 of this part and should not be disclosed. The
submitter's claim of continued confidentiality should be supported by a
certification by an officer or authorized representative of the
[[Page 6668]]
submitter. Information provided by a submitter pursuant to this
paragraph may itself be subject to disclosure under FOIA.
* * * * *
0
4. Revise paragraph (j)(8) of Sec. 201.20 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.20 Fees.
* * * * *
(j) * * *
(8) The term representative of the news media refers to any person
or entity that gathers information of potential interest to a segment
of the public, uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into
a distinct work, and distributes that work to an audience. The term
`news' means information that is about current events or that would be
of current interest to the public. Examples of news-media entities are
television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at large and
publishers of periodicals (but only if such entities qualify as
disseminators of `news') who make their products available for purchase
by or subscription by or free distribution to the general public. These
examples are not all-inclusive. Moreover, as methods of news delivery
evolve (for example, the adoption of the electronic dissemination of
newspapers through telecommunications services), such alternative media
shall be considered to be news-media entities. A freelance journalist
shall be regarded as working for a news-media entity if the journalist
can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that
entity, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by the
entity. A publication contract would present a solid basis for such an
expectation; the Government may also consider the past publication
record of the requester in making such a determination.
* * * * *
0
5. Revise paragraph (e) of Sec. 201.23 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.23 Definitions.
* * * * *
(e) The term Privacy Act Officer refers to the Secretary, United
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC
20436, or his or her designee.
0
6. Revise paragraph (a)(3) of Sec. 201.34 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.34 Definitions.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(3) Conference telephone calls among the Commissioners are
considered meetings as defined by paragraph (a)(1) of this section if
they involve the number of Commissioners requisite for Commission
action, and where the deliberations of the Commissioners determine or
result in the joint conduct or disposition of official Commission
business.
* * * * *
PART 206--INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO GLOBAL AND BILATERAL SAFEGUARD
ACTIONS, MARKET DISRUPTION, TRADE DIVERSION, AND REVIEW OF RELIEF
ACTIONS
0
7. The authority citation for part 206 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1335, 2112 note, 2251-2254, 2436, 2451-
2451a, 3351-3382, 3805 note, 4051-4065, and 4101.
0
8. Revise Sec. 206.2 to read as follows:
Sec. 206.2 Identification of type of petition or request.
An investigation under this part may be commenced on the basis of a
petition, request, resolution, or motion as provided for in the
statutory provisions listed in Sec. Sec. 206.1 and 206.31. Each
petition or request, as the case maybe, filed by an entity
representative of a domestic industry under this part shall state
clearly on the first page thereof ``This is a [petition or request]
under section [citing the statutory provision] and Subpart [B, C, D, E,
F, or G] of part 206 of the rules of practice and procedure of the
United States International Trade Commission.'' A paper original and
eight (8) true paper copies of a petition, request, resolution, or
motion shall be filed. One copy of any exhibits, appendices, and
attachments to the document shall be filed in electronic form on CD-
ROM, DVD, or other portable electronic format approved by the
Secretary.
PART 208--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]
0
9. Remove and reserve part 208.
Subchapter D--Special Provisions
0
10. Under the authority of 19 U.S.C. 1335, add subchapter D with the
heading set forth above, and transfer part 213, consisting of
Sec. Sec. 213.1 through 213.6, into new subchapter D.
PART 213--TRADE REMEDY ASSISTANCE
0
11. Revise the authority citation for part 213 to read as follows:
Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1335, 1339.
0
12. Revise paragraphs (d), (e), (f), and (g) of Sec. 213.2 to read as
follows:
Sec. 213.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
(d) Technical Assistance. Technical assistance is informal advice
and assistance, including informal legal advice, provided under 19
U.S.C. 1339(b) and intended to enable eligible small businesses to
determine the appropriateness of pursuing particular trade remedies, to
prepare petitions and complaints and to seek to obtain the remedies and
benefits available under the trade laws identified in Sec. 213.2(b).
Technical assistance is available to eligible small businesses at any
time until the completion of administrative review or of an appeal to
the administering agency regarding proceedings under the trade laws
listed in Sec. 213.2(b). Technical assistance does not include legal
representation of an eligible small business or advocacy on its behalf
and receipt of technical assistance does not ensure that the recipient
will prevail in any trade remedy proceeding. The Office provides such
technical assistance independently of other Commission staff but may
consult with other staff as appropriate.
(e) Applicant. An applicant is an individual, partnership,
corporation, joint venture, trade or other association, cooperative,
group of workers, or certified or recognized union, or other entity
that applies for technical assistance under this part.
(f) Eligible small business. An eligible small business is an
applicant that the Office has determined to be entitled to technical
assistance under 19 U.S.C. 1339(b) in accordance with the SBA size
standards and the procedures set forth in this part.
(g) SBA size standards. The Office has adopted for its use SBA size
standards, which are the small business size standards of the Small
Business Administration set forth in 13 CFR part 121.
0
13. Revise paragraph (a) of Sec. 213.3 to read as follows:
Sec. 213.3 Determination of small business eligibility.
(a) Application for technical assistance from small businesses. An
applicant for technical assistance under 19 U.S.C. 1339(b) must certify
that it qualifies as a small business under the appropriate size
standard(s) and that it is an independently owned and operated company.
An application for technical assistance is available from the Office
and on the Commission's Web site. The application must be signed under
oath by an officer or principal of the applicant. The completed
application should be submitted to the Office at the address set forth
in Sec. 213.2(a).
* * * * *
[[Page 6669]]
0
14. Revise Sec. 213.6 to read as follows:
Sec. 213.6 Information concerning assistance.
Any person may contact the Office with questions regarding
eligibility for technical assistance. Summaries of the trade laws and
the SBA size standards can be obtained by writing to the Trade Remedy
Assistance Office, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street
SW., Washington, DC 20436. Information is also provided on the
Commission's Web site at https://www.usitc.gov.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: February 2, 2015.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-02388 Filed 2-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P